— 2Q 2008’s 500,309 — by nearly 100,000 timeslots. Fire
sale prices for broadcast gave it a 27.8-percent gain of an extra
90,368 timeslots purchased, almost doubling its 52,187 increase
of 1Q 2008. This increase translates to a 37.3-percent ($183.09)
decline in its average cost — $308.43 in 1Q 2009.

National cable enjoyed a 21.6-percent increase — an additional 24,105 timeslots — while satellite added 12,725 timeslots
(a 40-percent jump). Both categories rebounded from 1Q 2008
declines — 6,747 and 10,772 timeslots respectively. This unusual outburst in the extra number of timeslots purchased managed to push the average cost of a half-hour block of time to a
new all-time low of $552.30 — 20.6-percent or $143.19 lower
than 1Q 2008. This number is also 4.6-percent ($26.79) below
3Q 2008’s previous all-time record low.

Spending in the top 30 markets declined 11. 9 percent,resulting in a $22.9 million loss. Top- 30 spending in 1Q 2009